The Secret Life of Pets soundtrack: A definitive guide to all the songs in the animated movie

Modified Jan 13, 2025 20:28 GMT

A still from The Secret Life of Pets (Image via Netflix)

The Secret Life of Pets is a delightful animated comedy film that premiered in theaters on July 8, 2016. Directed by Chris Renaud and co-directed by Yarrow Cheney, it is produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment.

The movie revolves around the adventures of Max, a Jack Russell Terrier, and other pets who explore life in the absence of their owners. Fans can currently watch it on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV+.

French film composer and conductor Alexandre Desplat writes the music for The Secret Life of Pets. Renowned for his adaptable musical taste, Desplat's work for this movie combines orchestral, jazz, and classical elements to exactly complement the film's lively yet understated tone. The vibrant energy and emotional depth of this soundtrack have won praise and provide still another layer of appeal for the film.

All songs from The Secret Life of Pets

Here is the complete soundtrack list and the duration of each track of the movie:

Meet the Pets – 2:37
Katie's Leaving – 0:55
Meet Duke – 3:36
Fetch Me a Stick – 3:09
Telenovela Squirrels – 1:24
Hijack! – 2:00
Gidget Meets Tiberius – 4:56
Initiation Time – 1:01
Rooftop Route – 1:27
The Viper – 1:49
You Have an Owner? – 3:04
Good Morning Max – 1:21
Sewer Chase – 1:09
Who's With Me? – 1:21
Me Like What Me See – 0:54
Traveling Bossa – 1:56
Flushed Out To Brooklyn – 2:47
Sausages! – 1:13
Duke's Old House / Captured – 3:03
Brooklyn Bridge Showdown – 2:34
Rescuing Duke – 2:46
Wet But Handsome / Blue Taxi – 1:24
Max and Gidget – 1:36
Welcome Home – 1:57
We Go Together – 1:24

The soundtrack captures the energy and emotional shifts of the film beautifully, with highlights like Meet the Pets introducing the characters and Brooklyn Bridge Showdown amplifying the climax.

Production and direction

Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney served as directors of The Secret Life of Pets. Brian Lynch, Cinco Paul, and Ken Daurio composed the screenplay. The film showcases a distinctive combination of humor and visual appeal, with character design influenced by Jean-Jacques Sempé and animation produced by Illumination Mac Guff in France.

The production is memorable due to the meticulous attention to detail in the settings and character movements.

All about the music director: Alexandre Desplat

Alexandre Desplat’s career spans decades, during which he has scored over 100 films. Born in Paris to a French father and a Greek poet mother, he developed a love for music early in life. Desplat’s versatility is evident in his work, from jazz-infused pieces to full orchestral scores.

Some of his notable projects include The Grand Budapest Hotel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and The Shape of Water, for which he won Academy Awards.

Desplat also won three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Grammy Awards. Apart from these recognitions, he was made an Officer of the Ordre national du Mérite and a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2016.

Plot overview of The Secret Life of Pets

A still from The Secret Life of Pets (Image via Netflix)

The movie follows Max, a pampered Jack Russell Terrier living in a New York City apartment with his owner, Katie. His life turns upside down when Katie adopts Duke, a large Newfoundland mix.

Their rivalry leads to a series of adventures involving animal control, a gang of abandoned pets called the Flushed Pets, and a mission to rescue each other. Along the way, the film explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and belonging, ending with Max and Duke finding harmony in their shared home.